Khaberni - Smart voice assistants can do more than just play music; they can serve as home control platforms "Home Hubs", alarm clocks, and party hosts.
Since each has its unique features, this means you need to choose the right model for your smart home.
Testing Smart Voice Assistants
We at "CNET" magazine tested the latest connected smart voice assistant devices from brands including “Amazon”, “Google Nest”, and “Apple”, as well as more audio-focused models from “Sonos - Sonos” and “Bose - Bose”. We spoke to them, linked them to our home technologies, and played their music in every room in our homes.
These are the models we recommend, based on our experience in determining what each device does best.
• Amazon Echo (4th Gen) - best overall smart voice assistant device.
The "Amazon Echo" voice assistants are among the easiest smart devices to set up and the least costly on the market. For these reasons, the fourth generation "Amazon Echo" is our pick for the best overall device. This device delivers incredibly strong sound for its small size, and the assistant "Alexa" has the best compatibility with smart home devices compared to all other voice assistants. It is also easy to connect to popular music streaming apps like "Spotify" or simply stream via Bluetooth.
We've used it at parties, for help with cooking, for reminders, and other tasks, and it remains one of our top recommendations if you're comfortable with some privacy details. What helps "Echo" take the top spot is the quality of its sound: it provides loud room-filling sound with plenty of clarity and control over bass tones.
Although there are voice assistant devices with better sound, like the "Sonos Era" series, and "Echo Studio", none can beat "Echo's" price of $100, making it the best choice overall.
Other Options
• Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) - best budget smart voice assistant device.
There is no other budget smart voice assistant device that includes more features than the fifth-generation "Amazon Echo Dot". It offers a wide range of capabilities, including a temperature sensor, an Eero mesh extender, and the ability to tap it to use as an alarm. This makes it an excellent choice to leverage other smart systems you might have at home, all for just $50.
"Dot" also features better sound quality than other devices in this price range, including "Echo Pop" and "Google Nest Mini", with clear sound and acceptable bass tones. Its microphones are sensitive enough to hear from anywhere in the room, even with another voice assistant device running.
• Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen) - best Google voice assistant device.
Google has made great strides in catching up with Amazon in the smart voice assistant device race. At this point, choosing between the less expensive devices from both companies comes down to minor details.
The "Google Nest Mini", priced at $50, is a strong alternative to "Amazon Echo Dot" if you prefer "Google Assistant", and it comes at a comparable price.
Our tests show that Google Assistant (which will soon be replaced by the more interactive "Gemini") responds more flexibly to voice commands if you can't remember the exact name of your smart home devices, and is generally more knowledgeable about the information that can be found online.
In general, Google has an advantage in terms of intelligence, and the "Google Nest Mini" is a great and low-cost way to benefit from this intelligence. While "Nest Mini" may not have as many additional features as "Echo Dot" (currently), it boasts an important feature that "Dot" does not have, which is a built-in option for wall mounting and saving space, such as placing it next to a desk or in a kitchen corner. However, "Dot" may slightly surpass it in terms of sound quality.
